Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Hope Renewed-David Drake and S.M. Stirling

Hope Renewed
David Drake and S.M. Stirling
Baen, Jul 1 2014, $14.00
ISBN 9781476736587

“The Sword.”  On planet Bellevue, Raj Whitehall visits the Center battle computer to discuss recent events (see The Forge) with his friend Thom Poplanich, who temporary is revived from stasis.  Raj and his wife Suzette fear that his military victories leave him at great risk from either public execution or assassins working for Civic Government Governor Barholm Clerett, whose late wife Anne was Whitehall’s greatest supporter.  Chancellor Robert Tzetzas has begun the process of destroying the top general.  Everything changes when the Colony led by Ali the Settler and Tewfik invades land with a strong force that quickly takes Gurnyca.  To his disbelief, Barholm learns the tribute to the Colony has been underfunded and his troops unprepared for combat; both due to the corrupt Chancellor.  Raj agrees to lead a counter force to defend Sandoral knowing he will be outnumbered 3:1.

“The Chosen.”  Once a highly regarded general, Raj Whitehall’s essence has merged with the Center battle computer as they work in consort to achieve the goal of a Federation-like renaissance by duplicating themselves to deploy on other planets.  They recruit youthful Santanders John Hosten and Jeffrey Farr to counter what is happening on Visager.

This omnibus reprint contains books 5 and 6 of the exciting General military science fiction thriller (see Hope Reborn for 1 and 2, and Hope Returned for 3 and 4).  Though there is a déjà vu feel to the Sword, this is a terrific climax to the Raj as field general saga.  The Chosen is a supernova change to the series that once the audience adjusts turns into an entertaining military outer space epic.


Harriet Klausner

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